Chapter 66: The Chest (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 66: The Chest (1)
I learned a valuable lesson today.
Always check your surroundings before spouting nonsense.
Actually, wait—isn't the guy gloomily eavesdropping the one in the wrong? Now I’m starting to get annoyed.
Well, whatever.
Shaolin martial arts were one thing, but blurting out, "What if I’m the Heavenly Demon? What are you gonna do about it?" was definitely a crazy move.
It was true that once you reached the Super Peak Realm, you could afford to be a bit reckless, but causing friction with the entire Shaolin Sect was on a whole different level.
Seo-jun feigned ignorance, widening his eyes innocently as he scratched his head.
"Explain what?"
The half-bald Ji-am approached Seo-jun, his eyes narrowed into slits.
"Patron, I distinctly felt Demonic Qi here."
"Wasn't that just because of this guy?"
Seo-jun pointed at the Soul-Stealing Demon, whose head had been completely crushed.
Ji-am studied the corpse intently and let out a low groan.
"Amitabha... Even so, it is highly suspicious. It did not take long from the moment we drove the Soul-Stealing Demon here to our arrival. Are you saying you defeated him in that short span of time?"
"Right? It's not like this old man suddenly decided to commit suicide."
"Then why did you just refer to yourself as the Heavenly Demon?"
"Me? When? Didn't you hear me wrong? I said 'that demon,' as in 'that guy over there.'"
"Mmm."
Ji-am furrowed his brows and snapped his mouth shut, though his gaze remained razor-sharp.
Just then, Hye-un, who had arrived with him, stepped forward.
"Sasuk, this person cannot be a demonic practitioner. Have you not heard the alias 'Gwang-a-rang'? Furthermore, the young lady of the Namgung Clan is also present."
"But you saw it too. This man was clearly wielding Demonic Qi."
"That is..."
This time, it was Hye-un who fell silent.
Ji-am glared and stepped closer to Seo-jun.
"I know this is a grave rudeness, but would you be willing to offer your wrist?"
My wrist?
Was he planning to check his internal energy?
Among martial artists, this was an incredible insult, but for Seo-jun, it was actually welcome. There was no way the monk would find any Demonic Qi.
Just as Seo-jun was about to hold out his wrist, Namgung Su-ah, who had been listening quietly, stepped in. Her eyes trembled slightly, clearly offended.
"...Great Master, what is the meaning of this rudeness? To demand a martial artist's wrist based on mere conjecture?"
"It is the best way to be certain."
"Are you doubting the Namgung Clan right now?"
"It is not that. However, if he is innocent, what reason is there to refuse?"
"Where is the guarantee that you will not harm this young hero?"
"Are you saying you do not trust Shaolin?"
Chilly glares were exchanged between Ji-am and Namgung Su-ah.
Seo-jun scratched his head as he listened to their exchange.
Their tone was polite enough, but the actual content was basically a childish argument of 'Are you doubting me right now?'
Stepping back slightly, Seo-jun poked Chun-bong in the ribs.
"Eek!?"
"Whoa, what a reaction. You're on point today, Chun-bong."
"You bastard, can't you see how serious the situation is?"
"So what? I don't mind if he checks."
Shaolin? Even if Ji-am’s grandfather showed up, he wouldn't be able to detect the Demonic Qi that had already merged into the Primordial Unity Qi.
It was only natural. It wasn't Demonic Qi anymore.
However, it felt a bit awkward to step in now and offer his wrist.
Namgung Su-ah was fiercely standing up for him, after all, so just cutting her off would be...
"If the Patron acts this way, Shaolin has no choice but to doubt his intentions."
"The Namgung Clan will not stand idly by."
"This is Henan. This is the domain of Shaolin, not Namgung. Furthermore, Shaolin has no intention of persecuting the Patron based on suspicion alone. There will be no friction with Namgung."
"If this isn't persecution, then what is?"
Is it? Maybe I should step in?
Seo-jun approached Namgung Su-ah and lightly tapped her shoulder.
"Noona."
"Young hero?"
"It's fine, so don't get so worked up. If your head gets too hot, you'll start losing hair."
In that regard, Shaolin could be said to have the upper hand in this argument.
A baldy had no more hair to lose.
"But..."
"Ahem, I said it's fine."
When he pulled Namgung Su-ah slightly, she let herself be dragged along helplessly.
"Oh my..."
As she did, she subtly added her own strength to lean into his embrace. She was a woman very honest with her desires.
"If the young hero says so..."
Namgung Su-ah opened her eyes slightly, shot a cold look at Ji-am with her blue eyes, and then obediently backed down.
He was grateful she had stood up for him even after seeing him use Demonic Qi.
He’d have to give her a proper explanation later.
Moreover, Seo-jun realized that the reason Ji-am was acting relatively gentlemanly was largely due to Namgung Su-ah's presence.
No matter how great Shaolin was, they couldn't easily overlook the prestige of the Namgung Clan.
Even without her, he would have gotten away with it since they wouldn't be able to find the Demonic Qi, but the process would have been much rougher.
And if he had accidentally crushed Ji-am's head in the process, things would have truly spiraled out of control.
He was indebted to Namgung Su-ah in many ways.
"A wise decision, Patron."
As Seo-jun stepped forward, Ji-am, who had been arguing fiercely just a moment ago, pressed his palms together with a serene expression.
Seo-jun thought he was quite the character. This is what a Murim master should be like.
An elderly Murim master was bound to be a stubborn old geezer, but perhaps because he was a monk who had cultivated his mind, he wasn't completely unreasonable.
If it's just this much...
Then, Seo-jun suddenly became fearful of his own future. A stubborn, geezer Heavenly Demon. That would be nothing short of a disaster.
"But I have one condition."
"What is it? If it is reasonable, I shall grant it."
"If no Demonic Qi comes out, let me touch your head."
"My head...?"
Ji-am frowned, but soon nodded.
He seemed to have a fair amount of confidence.
"Very well. I shall allow it."
"Is that a promise?"
Seo-jun smiled brightly and held out his wrist.
"Then go ahead. Do whatever."
* * *
Naturally, no Demonic Qi was found.
"How can this be..."
Flustered, Ji-am’s internal energy thoroughly scanned the inside of Seo-jun’s body.
Seo-jun naturally guided that internal energy so it wouldn't detect his inner core.
He didn't know much, but he assumed an ordinary martial artist wouldn't have a literal inner core inside them.
As he gently guided Ji-am’s internal energy and used the Star-Absorbing Great Art to intercept and analyze a portion of it, it didn't take long for Seo-jun to understand what Buddhist internal energy felt like.
It’s a bit bland.
It wasn't that Shaolin's martial arts were bad. Ji-am’s internal energy was heavy and solemn, certainly worthy of being called top-tier.
However, Seo-jun didn't particularly like the feel of Buddhist internal energy.
It lacks charm.
Maybe it was because he had seen the obedient and cute Demonic Qi first, but this felt like a blunt, stoic man, which he didn't care for.
He could use it if he had to, but he didn't feel like putting in the effort to analyze Ji-am’s heart method.
"...I feel no Demonic Qi at all. It seems this poor monk has made a mistake."
"Right?"
Seo-jun grinned and pulled his wrist out of Ji-am’s grip.
Ji-am let out a groan as if something was bothering him, but that was none of Seo-jun’s business.
"We're done with this, right?"
"Indeed. By the way, the Patron's achievement is truly astonishing. To reach the Super Peak Realm at such a young age... If word spreads, the entire Murim will surely be shocked."
"Are you going to spread the word?"
"Of course not. Shaolin will never speak of the Patron's identity."
"Aha."
Seo-jun smirked.
"Then now... you know, right?"
Ji-am fell silent.
Hehe. Seo-jun let out a villainous laugh and spread his right hand wide.
"Come on, let me touch that head."
"Urgh..."
Veins popped out on Ji-am’s smooth scalp.
To have his head touched by a junior who was young enough to be his grandson? As a Murim elder, it was an incredible blow to his pride.
Slap!
Seo-jun patted Ji-am’s head.
"Ho-oh."
Slap, slap!
"Hmm."
Smack!
"Oho..."
Perhaps because he used a bit of force, red palm prints were left on Ji-am’s head.
"Oh, right. Noona, do you want to try touching it too? It’s a bit slippery and gross, but it’s not too bad."
"Fufu, I’m fine. Instead of that bald head, would it be alright if I touched the young hero's hair?"
"Uh... maybe later."
For some reason, she seemed to be emphasizing the word 'bald.'
It appeared she didn't like Ji-am very much.
"What about you, Chun-bong?"
"I'm good. I touched it last time and I'm satisfied."
"Hmm."
Slap-slap-slap!
After giving Ji-am’s head a final series of rapid pats, Seo-jun withdrew his hand.
With the red handprints on his vein-popping head, he looked like a piece of takoyaki.
"Pfft..."
He heard Chun-bong holding back laughter from behind.
Seo-jun gave an awkward smile and briefly pressed his palms together.
"All done, Great Master."
"...I see. Then, I shall take my leave."
Ji-am vanished quickly. It was a mysterious movement technique that made it look as if he were gliding through the air.
"Patron."
"Ah, Monk Hye-un."
"Sasuk can be a bit stubborn, but he is undoubtedly a good person. I was worried you might misunderstand..."
"No, it's fine. We're all settled."
Actually, it wasn't a misunderstanding at all.
Seo-jun raised his right hand and snapped his wrist, mimicking the slapping motion in the air.
Hye-un gave a strange smile and pressed his palms together.
"Then I shall see you again, Patron. It seems our fate does not end here."
"Yep. Bye."
With that, Hye-un departed as well.
Waving at their retreating figures, Seo-jun grinned and looked up at the sky.
The dark sky was only visible in fragments, hidden by the lush canopy of trees.
It was already night.
"Should we just camp out and head to the inn tomorrow?"
"What...!"
Chun-bong, who had picked up his habit of shouting 'What!', wailed.
"I hate bugs!"
"Oppa will chase them away for you."
"Ugh..."
And so it was decided.
* * *
After finding a reasonably flat spot, Seo-jun waved his hand.
KABOOM!
Trees were instantly pulverized.
At the cost of some horrific environmental destruction, the group obtained a comfortable campsite.
Seo-jun, who had skillfully started a campfire, spoke up as he watched Namgung Su-ah cook.
"Come to think of it, Noona, I don't think I've told you."
"Yes?"
"I'm actually a 'talent genius.'"
It wasn't a very long story.
The other world, his meeting with Chun-bong, his talent. As he calmly shared these stories, Chun-bong’s jaw dropped beside him.
"Wh-What... You're telling her all that...?"
"She already knows you're from the Divine Sword Geum Family; this isn't more important than that."
"It's not...? Nothing bad happens if that gets out. I just hid it just in case..."
"What."
Now that he knew Geum Chun-bong was indeed Geum Chun-bong, he had opened up about everything, but her reaction was a bit unexpected.
As he stared blankly at Chun-bong, Namgung Su-ah gracefully approached him.
"Young Hero Lee..."
With her eyes drooping sorrowfully, she came up behind Seo-jun and rested her large chest right on top of his head.
"Hup, Mount Tai Pressure Peak."
"What..."
Mount Tai Pressure Peak. Mount Tai pressing down on the crown of the head. It was literal.
What... is this...?
While Seo-jun was blankly contemplating the profound truths of the universe, Namgung Su-ah hugged his head.
"It must have been so hard for you. Thank you for telling me."
Squeeze.
His mind went blank from the soft sensation, the warmth, and her scent.
Chun-bong could only stare at the two of them, blankly groping her own chest.
Thump. Thump.
Beneath the hollow night sky, only the sound of emptiness echoed lonely.